Donegal Giving Recycling Story – Angela’s Family Adventure in Giving

Angela attended the launch of Donegal Giving last week and said, “it was absolutely fabulous, uplifting, inspiring, and filled with the kind of energy that stays with you long after the event ends.”

She was so inspired, that when she got home she felt that something shifted. She opened her wardrobe and before she knew it, she had three bags of clothesone bag of toys, and one bag of children’s books ready to go.

The next morning, Angela dropped the clothes to SVP, and then herself and the kids headed to Extra Time Kilmac with the toys and books. While they were there, the children browsed the shelves, picked out a few books to buy, and were delighted with themselves and already planning their return visit.

What started as a simple tidy up became a family adventure in giving, sparked by the Donegal Giving launch. And that is exactly the point.

Giving does not always look grand. Sometimes it is just clearing a wardrobe, donating what you can, and letting your children see the joy in passing things on.

Why This Matters: The Reality of Waste in Ireland

Every year in Ireland:

  • Over 170,000 tonnes of clothes are thrown away.
  • The average household discards 35 kg of textiles annually.
  • Only a fraction of toys and books are ever reused and most end up in landfill.
  • Charity shops save millions of items from landfill every single year.

When one family decides to donate instead of dump, it genuinely makes a difference. And when whole communities do it, we create a culture of giving, reuse, and responsibility which is exactly what Donegal Giving stands for.

5 Simple Ways to Declutter for Your Local Charity Shop

If you would like to follow Angela’s lead, here are five easy, feel good ways to start.

Call in first

Pop into your local charity shop and ask:
What items do you need most right now?
Are there things you cannot accept?
Every shop is different and they will really appreciate you checking.

Start small, one shelf, one drawer

Do not overwhelm yourself. Choose one small area and work through it. Once you get going, it becomes surprisingly satisfying.

Make three piles

  • Keep
  • Donate
  • Recycle (for broken or unusable items)

This keeps things simple, fast, and guilt free.

Take a photo of sentimental items

Letting go is hard, especially children’s clothes, toys, or gifts.
Taking a quick photo gives you a memory without the clutter.

Bring the kids into the adventure

Let them choose one item to donate.
Let them visit the shop with you.
Let them pick something small to buy.
It becomes a positive experience instead of a chore, just like Angela’s day out.

Every Bag Helps Build a Kinder Donegal

Angela’s story is proof that small, everyday giving adds up.

It strengthens families, supports local charities, protects our environment, and keeps good items in use for longer.

This is Donegal Giving in action, creating a culture of kindness, care, and community, one bag at a time.

If you have your own Donegal Giving story, we would love to hear it.

Share it, inspire someone else, and keep the giving going.

Want to share your own story with Donegal?

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